Posted By Debra Gould, MS We CAN make the difference. It's a Serious Matter. by Dr. Shondra Williams, CEO JCHCC http://wgno.com/2017/02/12/sororities-help-spread-healthy-heart-awareness/ 1 in 3 Women Die Each Year of Heart Disease It often starts with an elevated blood pressure, that is poorly controlled, a stressful event that causes us to eat more and gain weight, then the weight can't come off, or a cholesterol level that continued to escalate and you really "felt fine," or the glucose level that remained high but, you learned to live with it because your body thought that this was normal. Then sudden-the heart stops. Make a Difference the World is Counting on us! #KnowYourNumbers Speaking of Numbers: Normal Blood Pressure: 120/80 Normal Cholesterol: below 200 (There's Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol. Goal: More Good than Bad) Normal Glucose: 70-99 before eating for Non-Diabetics Glucose Control-A1C- 5.7 (Non Diabetic) 7 (Diabetic) Body Mass Index-Weight must be proportionate to height See a Doctor to KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. "Your Health Is Your Wealth!" ========================================== Book Debra for your next conference, training program, convention, or corporate retreat. From team building strategies in our uncertain economy to dynamic new opportunities in America to Global partnerships. Debra's message on Team Building, Customer Service, Diversity and Leadership will resonate with your employees, professional associations, students, or customer clientele. From National Conventions, to Employee Development, to Graduations, Debra will customize a message for your audience that will be engaging, interactive, and results-driven. Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com Debra Gould Debra Gould & Associates
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By Debra W. Gould, MS Have you reached your ultimate level of success? You know, that bar that you've set in your mind of what it means to reach "the top." It seems we could always do something that would improve our success. We could read more business leadership books, work harder, network to a broader circle ... and the list goes on. What's holding you back from reaching your defined level of success in both your work and personal life?
Here are a few suggestions to help you look for answers to these questions by sharing the top excuses we make on what's holding you back from reaching your level of success? 1. I don't have the knowledge or information. Unfortunately, this is an excuse for the mere fact that we live in a world of information overload. From Google and systems that generate "big data," information is at our fingertips from smartphones to tablets to wearable devices. 2. I don't have the education required. Education comes in all shapes and sizes. It doesn't necessarily require going back to college to get a degree. Again, the internet proves a wealth of e-learning opportunities that are fast and affordable. 3. I can't take a risk right now. This excuse will follow you forever. There is never a perfect time to take a risk. If that were the case, then there would be no "risk" to the situation. To move ahead, you have to give something up and this can be scary and uncomfortable. Don't let this stop you from success. =================== Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS Balancing work and personal demands is more challenging today than ever. Organizations are constantly focusing on how to improve production, profits and performance, while at the same time working to maintain a high level of morale. With no definitive parameters for measuring balance, perhaps the real goal should be personal and professional separation-as we explain in this blog.
Why separation is so important: As technology has revolutionized the business landscape, many professionals no longer just leave their work at the office. This causes many people to feel they spend all their time working or on call, regardless of location. At the same time, many parents are prioritizing attendance at their kids' events and family dinners using the same technology within the time frames of "normal business hours." As a result, many people are doing two things at once-and doing neither very well. How many times have you been at a restaurant with your family and all attention is devoted to your smartphone? When your personal and professional lives overlap in this manner, both of them suffer. The Facts: At the office: Jobs frequently require people to work late, to put in extra hours and spend days on the road away from the family. This is because the job needs to get done, and a true professional understands they may have to miss a child's event or be away from home at inopportune times. To be great in business a person must make sacrifices. At home: Most professionals today work to provide for their family, and feel their family or personal life is the most important thing to them. Moms want to be moms, dads want to be dads, and people want to be who they are other than what their business card states. So how do you do both? Be present at work: When a person is at work they need to be at work, no matter their family dynamics or problems-they must learn to leave them at home. The one thing that can make any family problem even more difficult is for that person to lose their job because their personal issues are affecting their performance. Be present at home: When a person is home with their family they need to be present there. They should leave their phone and suit jacket at the door. Just like the company that pays that employee deserves the employee's very best, their families deserve their very best too. ============ Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS It appears that more women than ever are stepping up to positions of leadership, but the path are still not as clear and unobstructed as one might hope. Alison Levine, who served on the faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point, had a career on Wall Street and was team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, said it's crucial to find the people, both men and women, who will help you gain access.
We share these tips for being (or supporting) a successful woman in leadership. Heroism is a trait that is rarely associated with being female, but the acknowledgement that women leaders often behave heroically could move us closer to recognizing that women are natural leaders. If it sounds like we're making a connection between heroism and leadership-you're right. In a survey of people's beliefs about heroes and what heroism represents, eight traits were identified as predominant: smart, strong, resilient, selfless, caring, charismatic, reliable and inspiring. Interestingly, when women executives were asked what qualities were present in women who have risen to the highest ranks in their organizations, many qualities echoed those heroic traits. They listed confidence, grace, diplomacy, tact, insight, listening with good eye contact, moral integrity, global intelligence, warmth, compassion, understanding, transparency, authenticity, passion for their work, competence, good communication skills, self-assurance, being welcoming, and seekers of the best outcome for all parties. Women are entering the ranks of leadership in increasing numbers and are demonstrating that those qualities attributed to the female gender actually enhance productivity. If you are a woman who has gained access to a leadership position, hold on to those qualities that are the secret to your success. Here are a few more tips: •Keep your eyes open for other talented people who may need a foot in the door. They may become an asset in your organization. •Motivate others by showing personal appreciation and approval rather than neglect or disapproval. •Continue to be sensitive to other people's feelings and be willing to provide interpersonal support. This can be as simple as a sympathetic look or a message of support. •Communicate with staff so they know you are aware of the stress they are experiencing on the job. •Clarify your ultimate goals and allow people on the day-to-day operational level the autonomy to work within those goals without micromanaging them. •Monitor your staff as to their assignments and abilities. Match job assignments with workers allowing them to work at the top of their competency. All of these qualities are attributes with which women leaders have excelled. You will find your supporters and your place. ============= Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS At the mall last week I saw a great t-shirt. It had a fancy design with the slogan "Living the Dream." But it had a big red line through the word "Dream" and underneath was printed "Plan B." It made me laugh because so many people I know at this point in their lives aren't doing exactly what they had envisioned. Sound familiar? That might not be such a bad thing, as we explain in this message. 1. Find gratitude and redefine "failure." Too often we accept mediocrity as "success" because they are afraid of failure. They have not learned what does and doesn't work, and they have no Plan B to implement what they learn. Truly successful people often cite a specific failure that helped them on the path to success. 2. Become your own hero. It actually may be a problem to have everything go well from the beginning because when leaders do inevitably fail, they can become demoralized. Instead, trying different things and moving on when they don't work out can create the mental toughness required to gain and maintain success. 3. Lose the shame. Many individuals have been conditioned to avoid failure because it shows we are imperfect and that brings shame. In reality, "Failure offers the gift of bringing priorities into focus." When once asked about his success, NBA great Michael Jordan replied: "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Had he been afraid to take that first game-winning shot or had he stopped taking them after he missed the first one, he would not have succeeded. Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS Achieving your goals isn't a slam dunk. Can you do what it takes to meet them? The first step is to understand where you are today and where you want to be in the future. Only then can you determine the path, turns and detours and the points where you'll need to step on the accelerator.
I recently started going to a personal trainer. At the beginning of our very first session, he asked, "So, what are you trying to accomplish?" "To get in better shape?" I hesitantly answered. "Well, without a clear goal, you will not be able to see your progress, you will lose momentum, and we won't be able to see if the training is paying off." "In that case, to fit in my clothes from last year and to keep up a walking pace with my husband." This is goal-setting dilemma is common with many professionals. They are ready to set goals and action plans but fall short of knowing where to start. Why? They can't address where they are today nor can they describe the future destination they consider to be success. Without a clear goal they don't know where they're headed, so any path will get them there. Here’s an example of what can set apart those people who live by goals and those who don't: They know where they're headed and they are committed to a goals routine. People who have goals know where they want to go. You might be thinking, "I wish it were that simple ... I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up, and I never have." If you're searching for your destination, you don't have to sort out your entire life purpose in order to achieve in career path. All you need to do is set a target for yourself that can be as simple as an annual target. You also need to have a good answer to the question: "Does my entire being scream with desire to achieve this goal? Will I be in agony and turmoil until I do?" If the answer is yes, then you're in great shape to get started. (Perhaps you don't need all the angst and agony, but people who are not dissatisfied with where they are don't often make it to the next level.) As you're crafting your goals, take time to identify big goals, such as becoming the high performer in the company for five years in a row or retiring at age 55. Then align these big picture goals with short term goals, including what you need to do this year, this quarter, this month, this week and today. =============== Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS We’ve all heard about the power of persuasiveness. Persuasiveness isn’t about getting others to agree with you. Persuasiveness is the confidence to overcome objections in order to get others to help you in reaching a goal.
1. Encourage: Don't rush into answering an objection. Don't defend, but also don't ignore. In this phase, you do not need to agree but you need to acknowledge the other person's right to object. Be willing to let the other person express his or her reservations completely. Listen carefully and pay attention to body language. Encourage by showing empathy. Put yourself in his or her place. Some key phrases include:
3. Confirm your understanding: Don't offer solutions until you are sure you understand the real objection: If there’s a misconception, then clarify. If there’s skepticism, then prove with examples, statistics and references. If there’s a real drawback, then show the big picture; how advantages outweigh disadvantages. If there’s a real complaint, then show action with a plan to address the complaint or concern. 4. Check for agreement: Has the person's concern been resolved? If not, start the process again. • • • Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS Do you ever lose sight of work? Do you get tired, unmotivated, burned out? At times like this, it’s important to look at the reasons why we enjoy our work. We will share three reasons why we enjoy work—not including the pay, of course. Here are three more.
Sense Of Team Some people enjoy a special sense of completeness and wholeness by experiencing teamwork. In the workplace, many employers work hard to encourage this shared identity by conducting internal PR and messaging campaigns. For quieter teammates, a sense of camaraderie might provide an extremely important opportunity to connect and feel as though they belong. Physical Exertion For some, a special sense of joy comes from physical exertion, and the absence of it makes any job less appealing. It just doesn’t feel like work to some people if they aren’t breaking a sweat or doing battle with the weather. This is partly a product of socialization and might be related to what “work” means to them. Modern day psychology re-affirms the benefits from physical labor. We all know how endorphins can give us a slight high and everyone knows about the stress-management benefits created when we work out. Mental Challenges Finally, a great many of us enjoy the special mental satisfaction that comes from exercising our creativity or satisfying our curiosity. For some, the small euphoria that comes from developing something new or conquering a complex problem can be a big part of enjoying work. So, what can be done to help others enjoy their work? The answer is simple: treat the cause, not the symptoms. Ask an employee if she feels connected to the team or if she is challenged. Stepping back and reflecting on each of these motivators can guide any manager or employee toward creating a more enjoyable workplace. Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS Instead of thinking of a dreary, needed-one-more-day Monday, do you ever welcome a “glorious, productive Monday?” My guess is probably not. We are sharing three reasons (that don’t include money) of why we enjoy our work.
Inner Accomplishment The remarkable time and energy some people put into their work can only be understood as an “inner drive” —they simply want to achieve that goal. Seeking a personal sense of accomplishment is natural and can be harnessed every day by millions of workers and employers. It can be described as “taking pride in one’s work” or a sense that “this is what I was meant to do.” Whether the objectives are short-term or long-term, making progress toward a goal makes all of us feel good. The Greater Good Many of us are also motivated by a sense of community. It’s a feeling that we are part of something larger and that life isn’t just about our own individual needs and wants. This particular joy and peace is experienced by millions as they volunteer for church or service club tasks, but it can also be encouraged in the workplace. Personal Relationships Many get enjoyment from the individual relationships they experience at work and it helps them look forward to each day. The laughter, the camaraderie, the forgiveness and even the occasional stress are all something they enjoy and know they wouldn’t want to live without. But not everyone is the same, and certainly we’re not all our best selves every day. Enlightened managers respect this basic human need to connect with others and allow it, if not encourage it, in their workplace. So, what can be done more generally to help employees enjoy their work? The answer is simple: Treat the cause, not the symptoms. Instead of worrying about symptoms such as aggressive behavior or poor attitude, employees and employers can create a more enjoyable work environment by directly addressing one or more of these common denominators. Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com By Debra W. Gould, MS What kind of first impression do you make on others? Have a guess? Research shows that this first seven- to-17-second interaction is critical. For example, a 2009 study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that factors ranging from clothing style to posture play a role in how impressions are formed. Having a handle on the kinds of impressions you make can go a long way toward advancing your career.
Today we are passing along four first-impression tips: 1. Be careful with humor. Although a quip or two might serve as an icebreaker, stay away from sarcastic remarks that could backfire. Because you don’t know a stranger’s sensitivities, prolonged joking might establish barriers you can’t overcome, either now or later. 2. Give up the need to be right. Confrontations with somebody you’ve just met will destroy rapport before you even start building it. Wait until you have established credibility before you challenge another’s statements. 3. Appearance counts. Several years ago, a professional colleague offered to meet me for lunch. I decided against wearing a suit, opting for a business casual dress. When he showed up in shorts and sandals, the message he conveyed was: “Joe, meeting you is a rather ordinary experience and doesn’t call for me to present a business-like appearance.” Follow this rule of thumb: don’t dress for the job you have now, dress for the job you want to have. 4. Be aware of your speaking style and how it affects the first impression. Listeners judge our intelligence, our cultural level, our education, even our leadership ability by the words we select—and by how we say them. Rather than mumble, speak so you’re easily heard. Enunciate clearly. Alter your pitch to avoid the dullness of a monotone. Display animation in both voice and facial expression. Gesture naturally, without “canning” your movements. When you make a good first impression, you’ll open the doors to opportunity, connection and success. Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com |
Book Debra, Michelle, Nancy or Carole for your next speaking engagement or training event.
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